Casing head and blow-out preventer



May 18, 1937.

F. HINDERLITER CASING-HEAD AND BLOW-OUT PREVENTER Filed Aug. -12, 1935 I II FE 2UP frank c/ Wzwder/xfer Patente may 18, 1937 assume I oasme new aw-on'r raavais'raa Frank I. ii Application august 12 2 inju e-:-

This invention relates to a casing head, and

- more particularly to a casing head and blow-out preventer of the same general type as that disclosed in my Patent No. 1,968,685, granted July 5 31, 1934.

An object of this invention is to provide a cas ing head with a novelly arranged blow-out preventer adapted to maintain continuously a seal about the pipe and its couplings as the pipe is lowered in the well.

Another object of this invention is to provide a simple and inexpensive blow-out preventer for use with a casing head.

A still further object of the invention relates to the provision of a spaced sealing means for disposition about pipe above a casing head.

My present invention also provides a sealing means which is constant even under the varying pressures encountered in the process of drilling an oil, gas or water well by the rotary method in that the rotary drill pipe couplings and tool joints may be rotated, inserted, removed and suspended without pressure blow outs of oil, gas or water, thereby eliminating the necessity. of using the conventional mud weight system of pressure control as different pressures are encountered. The elimination of the use of rotary mud further avoids the danger of sealing the oil producing strata by its intrusion. '30 In accordance with the general features of this invention there is provided a casing head structure having a tubular member in which are disposed spaced sealing rubber rings each of which consists of a substantially solid ring of rubber having a continuous and unbroken surface for sealing engagement with the pipe or its couplings, and having an outer periphery in engagement with the inner surface of the tubular member, which periphery is provided with an annular 40 groove or cavity for accommodating portions of the rubber displaced by the passing of, pipe couplings through the rubber ring.

Another feature of the invention relates to the structure for supporting the rubber sealed rings in spaced relation inside of the tubular member above the casing head.

Other objects and features of this invention will more fully appear from the following detailed description taken in connection witlrthe accompanying drawing, which illustrates several embodiments thereof, and in which: I

Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view through a casing head and blow-out structure embodying my invention, some of the parts being shown in elevation; and

ill

derliter, 'ilulsa,0ixia.

, 1935, Serial N0. 35,772 (Cl. 166-14) Figure 2 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view illustrating a portion of that shown in Figure 1 more in detail, and showing how the rubber of the packing ring is displaced as a pipe coupling is passed therethrough.

As shown on the drawing: 1

The reference character it) designates a casing head which is adapted to be connected to the upper end of a well casing. This casing head l0 has a threaded lower opening ii for connection 10 to the upper end of the casing. In addition thereto, the casing head has the usual lateral ports or openings 52 and I3 through which fluid may be withdrawn from the well. I

The casing head includes an upwardly extendl5 ing extension id, in which may be disposed a blow-out preventer E5 of the same general type as that disclosed in my Patent No. 1,918,810.

In the upper end of the extension M is a reduced threaded portion 16 on which is screwed the lower end of a tubular member," in which is housed a blow-out preventer construction embodying the features of this invention. This tubular member, as well as the casing head, is adapted to have lowered or raised therethrough 25 pipeal8, including pipe couplings such as the? pipe coupling 19.

Positioned in the tubular member ii are a pair of spaced sealing rings 20-20 which are held in spaced relation by means of an intermediate sleeve 2| disposed inside of the tube I'I. Since the rings 20-20 are identical in construction, a description of one will suffice for both. Each ring consists of a substantially solid ring of rubber which presents a relatively unbroken and continuous inner surface 22 for sealing contact with the pipe l8 or coupling IS. The outer periphery of this ring 20 is positioned for engagement with the inner surface of the tubular member I1, and is provided with an annular groove 40 or cavity 23. The ring 20 also has its upperand lower edges confined in spaced metal rings 2.4 and 25, which rings are secured to the rubber ring by means of pins 26 or the like. These metal rings 24 and 25 hold the upper and lower edges or flanges of the rubber ring 20 in relatively fixed positions.

In addition thereto, in the lower sealing ring 20 the metal ring 25, by reason of its beveled lower edge 2'! is adapted to seat on a beveled shoulder 28 formed on the interior of the tubular member. 4

The sleeve 2| is seated on the top ring 24 of the lower blow-out preventer 20, and the lower metal ring 25 of the upper blow-out preventer 66 I sleeve 2| are pressed downwardly into tight cooperation with each other and into cooperation with the shoulder 28 by'means of a threaded ad- Justable bushing 30 screwed into the upper end of the tubular member i1.

Each of the rubber rings 20 has an annular inner projection 3| for sealing contact with the pipe, which projection is offset downwardly rela-- tive to the upper and'lower edges of the ring so as to provide an annular downwardly depending skirt for enhancing the sealing eflect of the packer ring. This skirt or projection egrtends downwardly from a point between the top and lower flanges of the rubber rings 20.

In Figure 2, I have illustrated how the rubber ring is displaced when a pipe coupling is is passed therethrough, the displaced rubber being pressed or forced into the annular groove or cavity 23 in the outer periphery of the rubber ring 20. This construction enables the packing ring .20 at all times to maintain a seal about the pipe, irrespective of whether the pipe itself is in engagement with the packing ring, or whether the packing ring is in engagement with one of the pipe couplings.

In Figure 1,-I have illustrated the positions of the packing rings when they are not distorted by a coupling; the coupling l9 being shown in,

a position between the two rings 20-20.

From the foregoing, itwill be apparent'that the tubular member I 'I may be easily attached to the upper end of the casing head, and the packing rings 20-20 and the intermediate sleeve 2| may be then. inserted in the member I! or removed therefrom without in any way disturbing the parts of the casing head l0.

. The two rings 20 provide blow-out preventing 40 means which is in addition to the blow-preventer IS in the casing head. The blow-out:

preventer I! in the casing head may or may not be used with the blow-out preventers 20-20, as desired.

Also, I have found that by coating the rubber rings 20 with parafiin or wax, the installation, removal and use of these rings is greatly facilitated.

Now, I desire it understood that while I have illustrated and described in detail several forms length of the coupling Joining two sectionsof pipe passing through said casing head, each sealing means comprising a packing ring normally urged into intimate contact with said pipe, a

sleeve inside said member between said spaced Y sealing means, means in said member for supporting the lowermost sealing means, the uppermost sealing means being supported on said lowermost sealing means by said sleeve, and means for imposing an endwise compressive force on said sealing means tohold said means in said member, each of said rings having an annularly disposed flange thereon extending downwardly and inwardly in position to be urged inwar against said pipe.

2. In a casing head, a tubular member. a plurality of zones of sealing means in said member and spaced apart a distance greater than the length of the coupling joining two sections of pipe passing through said casing head, each seal- .ing means comprising a=packing ring normally urged into intimate contact with said pipe, a sleeve inside said member supported on the lowermost sealing means, the uppermost sealing means being supported on said lowermost sealing means by said sleeve, and means for holding the spaced sealing means in said member. each of said rings having an annularly disposed flange thereon extending downwardly and inwardly in position to be urged inwardly against said pipe by possible pressure from below, and each of said rings comprising a substantially solid ring of rubber presenting a relatively unbroken and continuous inner surface for engagementwith the pipe, and having its outermost periphery in engagement with the inner surface of said memher and provided with an annular cavity for accommodating portions of the rings displaced during the passing otthe pipe and couplings through the rings. f

FRANK J. HINDERLITIR. 

